Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust receives $114,110 in grants to develop a “Fish Hub” business plan and to strengthen internal operations

July 28, 2016

Monterey, CA - The Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust has received a $60,110 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Fisheries Innovation Fund, and a $54,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Monterey County’s Next Steps for Small Nonprofits program. Both grants will support the Trust’s growing leadership in protecting and revitalizing sustainable and profitable fisheries out of Monterey Bay ports.

The Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was started in 2014 to secure local access to the West Coast groundfish trawl fishery, a high volume, reliable, and sustainably managed fishery. The Trust acquired a commercial fishing permit and 5 million quota pounds, which local fishermen can now lease on an annual basis. This will support the local fishing economy for years to come, while preserving an important part of Monterey Bay’s fishing heritage. The Trust is also developing programs and partnerships aimed at rebuilding local seafood markets, providing business and financial support services for fishermen, and cultivating leadership in fisheries management and conservation.

The NFWF Fisheries Innovation Fund grant program fosters innovations that support sustainable fisheries in the United States. With this grant, the Trust will research and develop a business plan for a Monterey “fish hub.” Modeled after agricultural food hubs, a fish hub would manage the aggregation, storage, distribution, and/or marketing of seafood landed in the ports of Monterey and Moss Landing. This project aims to increase the market value of seafood for local fishermen while ensuring that Monterey restaurants, markets, and consumers have access to fresh, locally caught, sustainable and traceable seafood. The Trust will work closely on this project with partners from the City of Monterey and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The Community Foundation for Monterey County’s new Next Steps for Small Nonprofits grant program aims to support and strengthen the inner workings of local organizations with funding and professional support. The Trust will use this three-year grant to strengthen its programs, finances and governance, thereby helping the organization to be more effective at achieving its mission.

“The Trust has made great progress over the past year by anchoring historic groundfish quota in the community and building good working relationships with local fishermen,” said Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust President David Crabbe. “But there is a lot more work to be done to reestablish local markets, assist fishermen with navigating new management programs and expenses, and improve consumer awareness about the importance of buying local seafood. We greatly appreciate the support of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Community Foundation for Monterey County, which will go a long way towards helping us reach our goals.”

The Trust is accepting donations to buy additional fishing rights for the community and to expand our programs. For more information on the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust or for information on how you can support our community efforts please visit www.montereybayfisheriestrust.org or call Sherry Flumerfelt, Executive Director at 831-233-3101.

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